While Brooks and Warren argue that “An Occurrence at Owl Bridge” lacks fictional meaning and stands merely as a case study in psychology, I argue that the characterization of Peyton Farquhar reveals important elements of human nature and the struggle of personal identity. Farquhar is presented as a southern dandy, and as such his life of privilege has done little to prepare him for the realities of the battle front; this makes him an unlikely candidate for execution as a Confederate agitator. The reader learns vaguely of the circumstances that prevented him from enlisting in the Confederate army. This leaves Farquhar desperate to serve and prove his devotion to the Southern cause. This determination to achieve renown among the Southern ranks
